- Louise Polli On a clear July evening, Jeseppe (Zep) Trade Wildfeather, his wife Denise, and friends Cindy Jakubowski and Vijaya Luxmi sat in a field overlooking the Arboretum's new Shanti Vun Meditation Garden. They were soon joined by others, friends and strangers, gathering to form a large circle, a drum circle. And then the magic began. "We're going to build a little momentum...It is sort of a transformative experience, everything in our lives is so integrated . . . you have to let go and get into a zone," Zep and Denise explained. He noted that he had some recorded music. "It gets us off the runway a little bit . . . for self-discovery, freedom." With the help of a well-chosen instrumental playlist, everyone picked up and began playing, unchoreographed, a percussion instrument they brought or passed around the circle, congas, maracas, claves, even five-gallon buckets. Days of rain had subsided, the Arboretum's birds danced overhead, cedar waxwings and a scarlet tanager soared, and the drummers settled into the rhythm of the night.
Vijaya's homemade chai, rich with the spices of her Indian homeland, charmed Zep and persuaded him to work with her to establish a series of drum circles at the Arboretum the first and third Thursday nights of each month, from 7 to 9 PM, through the summer and into September, weather permitting. Participants new to drum circles were unsure what to expect, but any hesitation quickly dissipated with Zep's welcoming approach and encouragement. He immediately connected with the group, put everyone at ease, and solicited feedback between sets. By the end of the evening, the group was smiling knowingly, relaxed and confident enough to perform without accompaniment. Everyone instinctively continued to play, to find their own sound. "It might just be something the other person came to hear, " Zep told us. We made our own music, our own peace, that memorable July evening. Come and find yours in the serenity of the Meditation Garden and Pavilion. You might want to bring some chai. What will we add next to the Meditation Garden? If you would like to help us support and maintain the Shanti Vun Meditation Garden and Pavilion, consider a donation (tax deductible to the full extent of the law). You can donate safely online through Donor Box here or contact us at [email protected] for information on how to donate by cash or check. All donations are appreciated.
1 Comment
Anne Donnelly
10/3/2021 03:39:34 pm
Looks like such fun! Hope he's back next year.
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